��������

LONDON: World leaders and journalist organizations have condemned an Israeli strike on Monday that targeted Gaza’s Nasser Hospital and killed at least 21 people, including five journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other outlets.

The attack on the medical complex reportedly involved an Israeli explosive drone strike, followed by an airstrike as wounded civilians were being evacuated.

The assault drew widespread condemnation, fueling international anger over Israel’s repeated targeting of civilians and intensifying frustration at the failure of the international community to hold Israel accountable for attacks on the press.

Sara Qudah, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ regional director, said in a statement: “Israel killed at least five journalists in Nasser Hospital on Monday morning.

“Israel’s broadcasted killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has ever faced in recent history. These murders must end now; the perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.”

The CPJ has documented the killing of at least 197 journalists and media workers since the war began, including 189 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza.

In a statement on social media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap,” adding Israel “deeply regrets” the deaths and “values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.” He added that an investigation had been launched.

The UN insisted on Tuesday that Israel must not only investigate the attack, but also ensure that those probes yielded results.

Reactions from world leaders and media groups are below.

SAUDI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

“The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of ��������’s condemnation of Israeli occupation forces’ targeting of medical, relief, and media personnel at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.”

PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS SYNDICATE:

“The syndicate affirmed that this heinous crime represents a dangerous escalation in the direct and deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalists, and confirms without a shadow of a doubt that the occupation is waging an open war on free media, with the aim of terrorizing journalists and preventing them from carrying out their professional mission of exposing its crimes to the world.”

US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:

“When did this happen? I didn’t know that. Well, I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare.”

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON:

“This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict.”

QATARI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

“In a statement on Monday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the occupation forces’ targeting of journalists and relief and medical workers requires urgent and decisive international action to provide the necessary protection for civilians and ensure that the perpetrators of these atrocities do not escape punishment.”

UN SPOKESPERSON STEPHANE DUJARRIC:

“The secretary-general strongly condemns the killing of Palestinians today in Israeli strikes that hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Those killed in addition to civilians included medical personnel and journalists.

“These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict.

“They must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt and impartial investigation into these killings.”

US SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE

“I personally am appalled by the bombing in Gaza and by the killing of journalists, and think it needs to end now.”

JEROME GRIMAUD, MSF EMERGENCY COORDINATOR IN GAZA:

“For the past 22 months we have watched as healthcare facilities have been leveled, journalists silenced, and healthcare workers buried beneath the rubble by the Israeli forces. As Israel continues to shun international law, the only witnesses of their genocidal campaign are deliberately being targeted. It must stop now.”

RAVINA SHAMDASANI, CHIEF SPOKESPERSON FOR UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VOLKER TURK:

“The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world, not into stunned silence but into action, demanding accountability and justice.”

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR GENERAL TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS:

“While people in #Gaza are being starved, their already limited access to healthcare is being further crippled by repeated attacks.”

“We cannot say it loudly enough: Stop attacks on healthcare. Ceasefire now!”

UNRWA CHIEF PHILIPPE LAZZARINI:

“Silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently and #famine with the world’s indifference & inaction is shocking ... Let us undo this man-made famine by opening the gates without restrictions, protecting journalists & humanitarian + health workers. Time for political will. Not tomorrow, now.”

JERUSALEM-BASED FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION:

“We demand an immediate explanation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. We call on Israel once and for all to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists … We appeal to international leaders: Do everything you can to protect our colleagues. We cannot do it ourselves.”

With Reuters

LONDON: Reuters and The Associated Press have jointly called on Tel Aviv to conduct a full and transparent investigation into its strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Monday that killed five freelance journalists covering Israel’s war on Gaza.

In a letter on Monday addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other senior officials, the two leading news agencies demanded a clear explanation.

The attack killed AP freelancer Mariam Dagga, Reuters contributor Moaz Abu Taha and cameraman Hussam Al-Masri. Photographer Hatem Khaled, also contracted by Reuters, was wounded.

Noting the nearly two-year ban on foreign correspondents entering the enclave ravaged by Israel, the media agencies said: “These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness.”

The letter added: “We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law.”

Though the media agencies acknowledged Tel Aviv’s pledge to investigate the attack, they raised concerns about the credibility of Israel’s internal probes, citing a lack of transparency and past failures to deliver accountability and action.

This, they said, raises “serious questions including whether Israel is deliberately targeting live feeds in order to suppress information.”

Since Oct. 7, 2023, at least 197 journalists and media workers have been killed, including 189 Palestinians, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The toll includes multiple confirmed cases of targeted strikes.

Following Monday’s strike, the Israeli military claimed it “does not target journalists as such.”

But both agencies questioned the statement and raised concerns over whether Israel was fulfilling its obligations under international law to protect journalists and civilians.

“Striking a hospital, followed by a second strike while journalists and rescuers were responding, raises urgent questions about whether these obligations were upheld,” the letter read.

The agencies reiterated their call for Israel to allow safe and unimpeded access to Gaza for independent journalists, urging officials to uphold press freedom and protection.

“We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to deliver crucial eyewitness reporting under extremely dangerous conditions,” the letter stated.

Israeli authorities have not yet responded to the joint request.

Similarly, the Foreign Press Association, which represents international media working in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed its outrage on the attack, demanding “an immediate explanation” from the Israeli army and the Israeli PM’s office.

In a statement on Monday, the association called on Israel “once and for all to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists.”

It added: “This must be a watershed moment. We appeal to international leaders: Do everything you can to protect our colleagues. We cannot do it ourselves.”